Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity PDF
Preview Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity
praise for getting off Despite the central role of pornography in the sexual socialization and psyches of millions of men, it is stunning how rarely we discuss it thoughtfully and honestly: with each other, with women, and per- haps most importantly, how rarely we examine its effects on us as men. Robert Jensen’s book does all of this. Agree or disagree with his analyses or conclusions, this brave book challenges all of us to face this crucial and sometimes painful subject with courage and hope. —Jackson Katz, author, The Macho Paradox praise for heart of whiteness “Very few white writers have been able to point out the pathological nature of white privilege and supremacy with the eloquence of Robert Jensen.” —Tim Wise, author, White Like Me “Jensen’s concise and thought-provoking book offers a variety of ways for white Americans to abandon their unearned skin privilege and rejoin the rest of humanity.” —Kel Munger, Sacramento News and Review “With radical honesty, hard facts, and an abundance of insight and compassion, Robert Jensen lays out strategies for recognizing and dis- mantling white privilege—and helping others to do the same. This text is more than just important; it’s useful. Jensen demonstrates again that he is a leading voice in the American quest for justice.” —Adam Mansbach, author, Angry Black White Boy, or The Miscegenation of Macon Detornay praise for citizens of the empire “It is up to the citizens of the empire, Jensen says, to ‘build move- ments that can transform people’s opposition into political power.’ That sounds like a tall order, but Jensen’s use of personal anecdotes, analogies, and in-your-face common sense makes the reading easy and his request sound doable, even logical.” —Publishers Weekly “Robert Jensen does more than challenge us to think and feel—he also encourages us to transform our lives.” —Norman Solomon, co-author, Target Iraq “Robert Jensen supplies a much needed citizens’ manual, that explains well the evasion of moral principles that underlie appeals to patrio- tism, and the differences between nominal and real free speech and a vibrant versus an empty and managed democracy.” —Edward S. Herman, co-author, Manufacturing Consent getting off [ ] pornography and the end of masculinity by Robert Jensen south end press cambridge, ma ©2007 by Robert Jensen. The views expressed in the book belong to the author and not the institutions with which he is affiliated. Cover design: Design Action Collective. Page design and production: South End Press Collective/Joey Fox Any properly footnoted quotation of up to 500 sequential words may be used without permission, as long as the total number of words quoted does not exceed 2,000. For longer quotations or for a greater number of total words, please write for permission to South End Press. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Jensen, Robert, 1958- Getting off : pornography and the end of masculinity / by Robert Jensen. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-0-89608-776-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Pornography--Moral and ethical aspects. 2. Pornography--Social aspects. 3. Women--Crimes against. 4. Feminist theory. I. Title. HQ471.J47 2007 306.77--dc22 2007006615 Printed in the United States. 10 09 08 07 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 South End Press 7 Brookline Street, #1 Cambridge, MA 02139 http://www.southendpress.org [email protected] read. write. revolt. This book is dedicated to the memories of Andrea Dworkin and Sally Koplin. o Beatrice: What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open. Houdini: It has. Now I’m going after it—all pieces. —Muriel Rukeyser Houdini: A Musical table of contents Our First Glance In The Mirror: The Rowdy Boys 1 introduction masculinity [andrea and jim] 5 pornography [the paradox in the mirror] 13 masculinity where we are stuck [playing king of the hill] 21 pornography a pornographic world [what is normal?] 37 pornography as mirror [content] 51 choices, his and hers [production] 79 we are what we masturbate to [consumption] 97 getting nasty [ariana jollee and laura david] 121 not-masculinity where we need to go [more than just johns] 133 conclusion pornography [what is sexuality for?] 153 masculinity [what can men do?] 165 Our Last Glance In The Mirror: The Sad Men 185 endnotes 186 a bibliographic note 195 acknowledgments 197
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